A PACK of dingoes found circling the dead body of a 19-year-old backpacker will be put down, after rangers observed “aggressive behaviour” in the wild dogs.
Piper James, 19, was found dead and surrounded by a pack of dingoes on the tourist hotspot island K’gari, off the coast of southeast Queensland, Australia.
Piper had gone for a swim near the Maheno Shipwreck at around 5am on Monday morning, on a “dream trip” with her best friend.
But an hour later, the Canadian teen’s body was discovered by passers-by – and it was covered in dingo bites.
Queensland authorities have now announced that they will euthanise the animals who mauled the Canadian teen.
Rangers have watched the dingoes carefully since the incident and have seen “aggressive behaviour” within the pack, a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said.
They declared the predators, which roam wild on the island, an “unacceptable public safety risk”.
They said: “Rangers have closely monitored the pack of dingoes involved in the incident this week and have observed some aggressive behaviour.
“Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack’s involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk.”
They added: “Dingoes involved in Monday’s incident will be humanely euthanised.”
“Public safety is our top priority, and this decision is informed and in the public interest.”
It comes as Piper’s family learnt that they may never know for sure what happened to her.
Inconclusive autopsy results mean cops still don’t know if the Canadian tourist drowned or was killed by the wild dogs.
Although water was found in Piper’s lungs, investigators have warned it may take up to two months before tests confirm if the 19-year-old drowned or was mauled to death by dingoes, her dad told 7News.
And even then, the family may still be left without answers.
Piper’s dad, Todd James, said: “They told me it could take another two months before we know anything more.”
“Even then, they said we still might not get the full truth. It’s devastating.”
He posted a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook.
He wrote: “Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper.
“We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams.”
Drowning is the most likely cause of Piper’s death, according to a Queensland Coroner’s Court spokesperson.
They said: “The autopsy has found physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites.
“Pre‑mortem dingo bite marks are not likely to have caused immediate death. There are extensive post‑mortem dingo bite marks.”
Piper’s dad had said he wants to push for safety changes to prevent another tragedy on the island.
His daughter loved nature and animals and he said she would never have wanted a dingo cull, but he thinks something needs to be done on K’gari.
The island is notorious for dingo attacks – a 10-year-old boy was dragged into the water by the wild dogs in 2023.
He was bitten and pulled under the water by the predator after walking along the water’s edge.
But the boy was miraculously saved when his brave 12-year-old sister intervened, and luckily got away without serious injuries.
Just weeks after the terrifying incident, two women were mauled by dingoes at the tourist hotspot, as one of the animals circled a group of beach-goers.
